Early B.O.: ‘Jump Street’ pacing for $32 mil

'Lorax' should hold well for a $27 million third frame

Sony’s “21 Jump Street” is springing forward at the weekend B.O., with the R-rated comedy on pace to gross $13 million Friday on its way to a $32 million gross, according to estimates based on early Friday returns.

Starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, “Jump Street” has been riding a wave of positive reviews (currently an 88% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes). With about a third of colleges on Spring Break, pic could see a bump in coin by Monday depending on late-night auds.

Based on the popular 1980s cop series starring Johnny Depp, “Jump Street” was made for $42 million and marks the highest-grossing R-rated comedy since last Summer’s “Bad Teacher,” also a Sony project. Produced by Hill, Tatum and Neal H. Moretz, “21 Jump Street” was directed by helmers Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Michael Bacall penned the script.

Meanwhile, U’s reigning B.O. champ “The Lorax” continues to hold well Stateside. The Illumination Entertainment toon is poised for an $10 million Friday and should land in the $27 million ballpark for the three-day frame. “The Lorax,” having already cumed $132 million domestically, grossed an impressive $17 million during the week, thanks to kids being on break.

Unfortunately for Disney, not as many Spring Breakers are turning up for big-budget “John Carter.” The sci-fi tentpole, which cumed $30 million last weekend, is expected to fall off 45-50% week. The $250 million project should gross roughly $16 million for the weekend.

At the specialty box office, Par Vantage’s “Jeff Who Lives at Home,” starring Jason Segal, is pegged to earn $1 million from 250 locations for a $4,000 per/screen average.